Pronunciation: [wˈɜːt tˈe͡ɪkən] (IPA) 
The phrase "wert taken" is an archaic variant of "were taken". The spelling of "wert" comes from the Middle English era and is pronounced as /wɜːt/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The use of "wert" was common in early Modern English up until the 18th century, and it mostly appeared in poetic and literary works. Today, "wert" is considered an obsolete form of the verb "to be" and is no longer in common usage.
"Wert taken" is an archaic phrase derived from the Old English language, specifically from the verb "to be" (were) and the past participle of the verb "to take" (taken). This phrase is constructed in the subjunctive mood, which was commonly used in Old English to express hypothetical or contrary-to-fact statements.
"Wert taken" relates to the act or situation of being seized or captured in the past. It suggests a hypothetical scenario where someone or something has been apprehended, caught, or secured by force or compulsion. The phrase may imply an action that has occurred forcefully or against one's will, resulting in being taken possession of or detained.
The phrase can be exemplified in a sentence such as: "Had I tried to escape, I would wert taken by the guards." Here, the subjunctive mood implies that if the fictional situation occurred where the subject attempted to flee, they would have been apprehended.
The phrase "wert taken" is chiefly observed in older literature or historical texts and has become largely obsolete in contemporary language usage. Despite its decline, understanding archaic phrases like "wert taken" contributes to comprehension and appreciation of works from earlier periods of literature and allows readers to grasp the unique linguistic nuances of those times.
The evolution of the word "wert taken" can be traced back to Old English, specifically to the verb "weorðan" (pronounced roughly as "weer-than"), which meant "to become" or "to happen". The past tense of "weorðan" was "wearð", which eventually transformed into "wert" due to sound changes in Middle English.
The word "taken" originated from the Old English verb "tacan", which meant "to grasp" or "to seize". Over time, "tacan" developed into "taken" as a past participle, particularly in the Middle English period.
When these two words are combined, "wert taken" means "were taken" or "had been taken", depending on the context in which it is used. The phrase indicates something that has occurred or happened in the past.
